Republican Bob Schaffer in the Twilight Zone

* Twilight Zone Interview: with allegedly pro-life Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer regarding American RTL’s accusation of his disregard for Chinese women forced to abort their children, and read the excellent Rocky Mtn News report on the Schaffer scandal.

April 28, 2008 - 10:17am

Monday Morning Politicking with Bob SchafferBy Jeremy Pelzer…This week's Monday Morning Politicking… conversation with Schaffer. He discussed recent reports regarding his 1999 trip to the Northern Marianas Islands… Schaffer was accompanied by his campaign manager, Dick Wadhams, who jumped into the conversation at several points.

PolitickerCO: The campaign's been fairly quiet about the whole Marianas Islands controversy since it came out in the Post about a week or so ago. What's your take on this whole controversy and how it's played out?

Schaffer: Why don't you describe the controversy?

PolitickerCO: Well, just that the Post put out a series of articles detailing how, one, you went to the Marianas Islands and it was funded by or organized by Preston Gates...

Schaffer: Really? Was it?

Wadhams: No.(Politickerco Editor's Note: Schaffer's trip, according to the Denver Post, was not paid for by Preston Gates, jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff's former law firm. According to the Post, it was paid for by the California-based Traditional Values Coalition, which Schaffer described as a religious group "concerned with human rights." The Post also reported that "Later investigations have shown that in many instances, TVC - which claims to represent 43,000 churches - acted virtually as a political arm of Abramoff's lobbying operation.")

Schaffer: Why don't you take the opportunity to substantiate your comment just now?

PolitickerCO: Sure, sure. This is just -well, what is your take on the controversy? Why don't you fill me in?

Schaffer: Why don't you describe the controversy?

PolitickerCO: The controversy?

Schaffer: Yeah.

PolitickerCO: Well, just what's been in the papers, and there's a whole series of things - and I'm not asking you so much to talk about the controversy itself, but how's it's played out and what the reaction's been in the media and -- that's what I'm going for.

Schaffer: Well, the Denver Post has a hard time arriving at a factual and truthful representation of a 1998 event (Politickerco Editor's Note: Schaffer visited the Marianas in August of 1999). And that probably causes controversy for the Denver Post. Maybe you should take it up with them.

PolitickerCO: Just trying to get your take on it. Just trying to get your take on it.

Schaffer: I'm not sure what "it" is. I'm asking you to describe that.

BEL Note: If William Wilberforce were interviewed about his efforts against slavery, he would never have behaved as bizarrely as 'pro-life' Bob Schaffer. Wilberforce was a hero and a statesman. Schaffer comes across as an inept politician complete with Republican hack Dick Wadhams as a sidekick, whose about to speak up and turn bad to worse...

PolitickerCO: The controversy-the reaction to the Denver Post articles. That's what I mean by "it." And what you see as the effect--

Schaffer: Jeremy, if you're going to ask me-anyway, now listen, I love questions. I love talking about campaigns. If you've got something you want me to answer, you've got to tell me what you want me to answer.

PolitickerCO: I'm trying to tell you right now. I'm asking what your take is on the reaction and the effect of the Denver Post articles on this topic- that's my question.

Schaffer: I think it's probably hurt the credibility of the Denver Post.

PolitickerCO: Why?

Schaffer: Well, because when any news organization fails to report accurately and completely on any topic, readers tend to, um, assign lower and lower levels of credibility to reporters that make no pretense for objectivity - a political reporter, any kind of reporter.

PolitickerCO: What specifically - when you say inaccurate, what do you mean?

Schaffer: Things that they stated that were not true.

PolitickerCO: Like what?

Schaffer: You can, uh...Well, there were several. But frankly, I'm not here to talk about the Denver Post. If that's an interest to you-I mean, it's nice that you ask about the Denver Post, and I've made some comments, but you probably ought to talk to the Denver Post about their stories, their reporting, their controversies. I'm just not hired by them to do that.

PolitickerCO: He offered the testimony of that woman whose name escapes me, who claimed that her husband went undercover - he's a Filipino-American - and she claimed that he went undercover and after that-

Wadhams: Curtis did not make that claim, Jeremy. You've got it all mixed up.(Politickerco Editor's Note: Curtis did not cite the woman, Wendy Doromal, in either the Post or the Rocky story. Doromal's allegations were reported concurrently along with Curtis' attacks in the Rocky Mountain News article.)

PolitickerCO: But...no. He pointed to that. He definitely did point to that.

Schaffer: Curtis' story was about a Chinese woman.(Politickerco Editor's Note: The Post article states, "According to Colorado Right to Life officials, Shiu Yon Zhou, a member of the group, was forced to undergo a forced abortion in China and later sought refuge in the U.S., where she eventually became a citizen." American Right To Life Action is an offshoot of Colorado Right To Life).

PolitickerCO: He made several claims.(Politickerco Editor’s note: According to the Rocky article, American Right To Life Action wanted to know if Schaffer would reconsider his congressional vote giving favored-nation trading status to China "given reports of forced abortions in China and involving Chinese workers in the Marianas.")

PolitickerCO: He also said that you had not weighed in on the personhood referendum, proposed referendum-

Schaffer: Yeah, let's not get beyond these basic questions. What was the example he gave?

PolitickerCO: I'm sorry? Which example?

Schaffer: You asked me to react to somebody's, maybe Curtis', allegation that I somehow turned my back on human life issues. And I'm asking, what is the example? And you've not answered that.

PolitickerCO: But do you know what he said?

Wadhams: Jeremy, this whole interview stands in stark contrast to that fluff piece you did on Udall. I don't know if we're going to go any further on this. So if you want to continue with this line of questioning, we're going to cut it off right now.

PolitickerCO: All right, I'll move on to the next question.

Wadhams: Very good.

PolitickerCO: Not a problem.

Wadhams: Keep moving.

PolitickerCO: Sure. [Turning to Schaffer] What has been your take on the campaign in general so far? Has it played out the way that you expected it to, or has there been surprises for you?

Schaffer: It's going great...

PolitickerCO: I should ask you - what do you think of the proposed referendum to recognize an embryo as a person? Do you have an opinion on that?

Schaffer: I'm running for the U.S. Senate, and I'm going to keep my focus on the U.S. Senate race. As I understand, these referendums have to do with state laws, and I'm running for the U.S. Senate, which is in Washington.

PolitickerCO: Sure. And what is your take on the Obama/Clinton race. Have you been following it at all?

posted by George Holdorf In this hysterical interview (thanks PolickerCO for posting it verbatim) allegedly pro-life Bob Schaffer claimed that local Colorado issues (like the killing of our unborn) are not relevant to him, he's more concerned about getting to D.C.Schaffer out-Clintoned Clinton in a Saturday-Night-Live style "Definition of Is" extended skit. Dick (You're-not-paranoid-if they're-really-after-you) Wadhams didn't allow Schaffer to defend against accusations he was negligent while parasailing/investigating abortion that is forced on Chinese workers in the Mariana Islands, a U.S. protectorate in the Pacific.If PolitickerCO decides to ask Schaffer about this negligence again, the brief overview at this Denver radio show's site, http://kgov.com/bel_56kbps/20080424 will help.

Bob Schaffer is not pro-life and this interview is the proof in the pudding. Why, Bob and Dick, are you dancing around and refusing to answer questions? Because the answers will expose you as a fake? These are valid questions, about Schaffer's looking the other way when faced with forced abortions and his "could care less" attitude regarding the personhood effort in Colorado. Ahhhh, maybe you wine sippin, power hungry, Good Ol' Boy's don't want to address the issue because you are not really pro-life.*gasp*It's all about getting lots of votes from people who are dumb enough to think you are really pro-life, isn't it Bob? Wake up people; Republicans lie as much as the dumbocraps. I for one am fully committed to getting the word out about what a fake Bobby and Dick are.....while 4000 innocent little kids are snuffed out each day in our country.

PolitickerCO: I should ask you - what do you think of the proposed referendum to recognize an embryo as a person? Do you have an opinion on that?Schaffer: I'm running for the U.S. Senate, and I'm going to keep my focus on the U.S. Senate race. As I understand, these referendums have to do with state laws, and I'm running for the U.S. Senate, which is in Washington.Pathetic Bob. You're not pro-life. You're a liar. Innocent children are being murdered and you don't care about anyone but yourself and your Senate race. Repent Bob.

As a past Schaffer supporter, I thing Bob should just come clean about the entire Marianas Island trip...who paid for it, what he was paid to do, and what he did about it when he returned. Dodging questions life the ones found in this interview only undermines his credibility. Also, I wonder why he would grant this interview with PolitickerCO, then act this way. The interview is truly bizzare. I also wonder why he wouldn't meet with the pro-life groups and try to address their concerns prior to this entire fiasco. Does he really believe that his campaign will survive by acting in this manner? Duck, dodge, spin, get angry, act confused? Weird, weird, weird.

04/29/08 5:02 pm

* Bob Enyart On the Streets for Two Weeks: Colorado for Equal Rights has only two weeks till their May 13th deadline to get the rest of those 76,000 signatures they need! So Bob is asking, "Now that the final stretch is upon us, if you are a resident of Colorado, PLEASE help. Ideas:

* Get a blank petition at a distribution point (in Arvada, Aurora, Colo Spgs, Denver, Durango, Firestone, Grand Junction, Lafayette, Loveland, Pueblo, Westcliff, and Wheat Ridge) or call Colo RTL at 303 753-9394, and get five, ten or fifty names on it, quick!* Come out to meet Bob at daily signature event and sign a personhood petition!* Over the next two weeks, when you see where Bob will be petitioning, either come out and join him, or go to a similar location near you, on your work lunch hour, after work, on the weekend, at a Rockies ball game, whenever or wherever you can!* Ask another person to help you get a petition and signatures!* Ask your church if we can gather signatures on Sunday morning and call Colo RTL and we'll arrange for volutneers to be there!

Here are some of the places Bob will be getting signatures, and looking for you to join him, or to go to a similar location near you. Bob will call into his show daily over the next two weeks! Please do the same and call to talk to Bob's guest hosts through May 13th to ask personhood amendment questions or to encourage the audience by telling them what you've done to get signatures!

Tue, April 29, 3-4 pm:Mardel (click for map) Christian Bookstore South of Quincy on the west side of Wadsworth. (Join Bob or go to a similar location near you!)

Wed, April 30, 3-4 pm: Wal-mart, 32nd and Youngfield (Join Bob or go to a similar location near you and ask the manager for permission, at a Walmart, King Soopers or Safeway, most of which are happy to let you get signatures, just stand about 15 feet from the door, and ask customers as they are leaving!)

Thu, May 1, noon-1 pm:National Day of Prayer. Please either go to the State Captiol downtown, or join Bob at noon behind the Arvada Library in Olde Town off Olde Wadsworth; or find a Day of Prayer event near you by clicking on ColoradoNDP.com! This is a great place to get signatures statewide!

Thu, May 1, 3:00-4 pm: To be announced...

Fri, May 2, 3-4pm: King Soopers, join Bob at 64th and Ward in Arvada or go to your nearest King Soopers and let the manager know you're there (we have statewide permission for Safeways and King Soopers, but we need to politely ask the store managers and let them know we're there).

Get Signatures at the Ball Park! Colorado Rockies Games:Please help Bob Enyart collect signatures at the Rockies Games outside of the main entrance of Coors Field (at 20th & Blake):

Fri, May 2, 6:00 pm (for 7 pm game time)Saturday 5 pm (6 pm game time)Sunday noon (for 1 pm game time) Bob can't make this one because he's preaching at Denver Bible Church, so please consider being there in his place)!

Bob will call into his show and update us each day at 3 pm from these above locations. Please do your part, come out and join him, or get signatures elsewhere if you can!

*To get petitions: Please call Colorado RTL at 303-753-9394 or or Colorado for Equal Rights at 719-749-2164!

Today's Resource: Read American Right To Life's great press release at Yahoo.com or at dozens of other major news sites (AOL, Forbes, Houston Chronicle, LA Times, etc.). This was a fun Expelled movie marathon and it's not too late for you to see the movie at a theater near you!